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Scientists hope to sell the smells midges hate

SCOTS scientists have discovered why a select bunch of holidaymakers never seem to be bitten by midges.

Some produce their own “masking” odours that prevent the insects from finding them. In other cases the smells they give off actively repel midges.

The research may eventually lead to a type of repellent that can fool midges and mosquitoes into looking elsewhere for a victim.

Previous research had established that blood-sucking insects were more attracted to some people than others, but the body chemicals that determined whether an individual was more or less likely to be bitten had evaded detection.

“We have found the compounds that cause the reduction of attractiveness in people and it is those that we will try to develop for a mosquito repellent,” said John Pickett, the head of biological chemistry at Rothamsted Research in Hertfordshire, who conducted the research with Aberdeen University scientists. “We are talking about